The No. 2-ranked Skyridge Falcons open the 2026 football season Thursday, Aug. 13, at No. 5 Mountain Ridge, and head coach Justin Hemm says his team is ready after an intrasquad scrimmage revealed a roster loaded with returning talent on both sides of the ball.

"It was a long off-season, but our hard work brought us here," Hemm said after the Aug. 7 Orange and Gray scrimmage at Skyridge High School. "Tonight wraps it up and we are ready for the 2026 season."

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Thursday. KJZZ-TV will broadcast the endowment game, a preseason contest whose proceeds benefit school programs, as the statewide high school football season opener.

The Falcons went 9-3 in 2025. Hemm, entering his fourth year at Skyridge with a 30-9 record and a 2023 6A runner-up finish, has a squad that Lehi Free Press described as "reloading more than rebuilding."

Five captains will lead the charge: senior center Andy Anderson, junior quarterback Jagger Fountaine, linebacker Rex Caswell, linebacker Crew Stevens and wide receiver Dax Rehrer.

Offense built around Fountaine and Anderson

Fountaine, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound junior, showed impressive mobility and a quick release during the scrimmage. Cannon Tripp backs him up. Behind them, running backs Beckham Bennett, Ului Faletau and Amanaki Levatau give Skyridge a three-deep backfield.

Anderson anchors the offensive line as a three-year starter and returning first-team all-stater. He's joined by fellow returning starters Soren Christiansen and Veni Fuatapu. The unit is coached by Tanner Roberts and new position coach Heneli Bloomfield.

Hemm praised his receivers, calling Malosi Shepard, Rehrer, Omarion Sanders, Stewart Wesley and Koa Wallwork "playmakers on the outside." Sanders returns with game-breaking speed, while Rehrer steps into the starting lineup for the first time.

Defense returns experience at every level

Caswell and Stevens lead a linebacker group that also includes Drayson Afalava. Hemm said the defensive line, coached by Tavita Sagapolu, is "playing extremely hard, fast and relentless."

The secondary features returning defensive back Ethan Schriever alongside Jaden Tahi and Daison Merrill. At cornerback, transfer Eli Mortensen, a Deseret News all-stater at Morgan in 2025, joins Bryson Mears.

Kickers Evan Kopp and Andrew Nielsen converted PATs and boomed long punts during the scrimmage.

A schedule built for a playoff run

Region 3 has produced seven consecutive 6A state champions, and Hemm told the Deseret News on Aug. 8 that the competition keeps his team sharp: "Every week presents a different challenge, and there are no easy games."

The non-region slate includes out-of-state matchups against Hun School of New Jersey and Liberty of Nevada, plus games against Skyline (4A) and Orem (5A). Skyridge's home opener is Friday, Aug. 21, against Orem.

First, though, the Falcons bus to Mountain Ridge on Thursday for a 7 p.m. kickoff that will test whether this deep, experienced roster can back up its preseason billing from the opening snap.